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Courses: English 7, English 7H, English 8, English 8H, Passport to Writing, Passport to Reading |
| English 6 Course Description (PDF format):  |
English 7 Course Description (PDF format):  |
English 8 Course Description (PDF format):  |
| Teachers: Ms. Morton; Ms. S. Smith; Ms. Godwin; Ms. Moore; Ms. Rockey; Ms. Kern, Ms. Kennedy Textbook: Literature and Language Arts, Introductory Course, HRW Holt Handbook, Introductory Course, HRW |
Teachers: Ms. Shihabi; Ms. Burke; Ms. Lipsky; Ms. White; Ms. Kern; Ms. N. Smith Textbook: Literature and Language Arts, First Course, HRW Holt Handbook, First Course, HRW |
Teachers: Ms. White; Ms. Hinson; Ms. Beck; Ms. N. Smith Textbook: Literature and Language Arts, Second Course, HRW Holt Handbook, Second Course, HRW |
Additional Materials:
Various grade-level appropriate supplementary novels that have been district approved.
Content of Courses: Literature is the umbrella for the study of composition, grammar, speaking and listening skills, vocabulary and spelling. Students in both the 7th and 8th grades read a variety of novels, short stories, poems, plays and non-fiction works. Many of these selections will correspond with the periods of history about which students learn in their social studies classes so that the two academic subjects can be more integrated.
Writing in 6th-8th grades conforms to the California State Standards, including response to literature, narrative, persuasive, summary, expository writing, business letters, and/or research reports.
All English classes include the following activities in some form: public speaking, cooperative learning, group presentations, plays, poetry recitation, research reports, book reports, Accelerated Reader, etc.
Grades will be based on consistent, punctual, quality work - both written and oral - on tests, class assignments, and homework in the listed curriculum areas.
Homework will be assigned on a regular basis in preparation for assessments.
Please check Zangle for homework, and either Zangle or My Own Grades for grade updates.
1. Discussing and sharing students' school activities and curricula.
2. Providing a suitable quiet place for homework and study.
3. Notifying the school or individual teachers when a continuing problem is observed.
4. Encouraging and rewarding good work and behavior.
5. Making regular perusals of notebooks for both content and organization.
6. Promoting a positive attitude toward academic responsibilities.
7. Consistent monitoring of assignment notebook.
8. Making doctor's appointments before or after school hours.
Students whose STAR California Standards Test (CST) levels are Far Below Basic or Below Basic are automatically placed into Passport to Writing, Passport to Reading, or Passport to Math, depending on individual student need.
Passport to Writing and Passport to Math, meeting daily from 8:00 to 8:50 a.m., are available for grades 6, 7 and 8. The course either lengthens the student's day to an 8:00 to 3:10 schedule, or else replaces what would otherwise be an elective course.
Passport to Reading, for grades 7 and 8, meets for 50 minutes during the regular 9:00 to 3:10 hours, replacing what would otherwise be an elective course.
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Writing Instruction: The teacher will discuss and model ways to improve sentence structure, paragraph development, grammar, and word choice. Students will practice these skills independently and with groups.
Grammar: Students will actively participate in editing sentences.
Independent Reading: Students read silently for fifteen minutes daily in order to support the school-wide reading program. Reading also provides examples of strong sentence structure and vocabulary.
Computers: Students will use a variety of technology. Students may use the COWS in their classes or visit the computer lab for writing instruction and activities.
Required materials: The teacher may require a composition book or spiral notebook.
Homework: No homework is required.
Grades: Students are graded based on their attendance and participation in class.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Designed by a school district committee, the Passport to Reading class is for students who are struggling with reading skills and in danger of retention. Focus will be placed on hearing the correct sounds, phonics, automatic word recognition, vocabulary, reading and listening comprehension including content area reading, and reading motivation. This is a serious academic class for which homework will be assigned nightly. Activities will include computer work, small group discussion, independent reading, contests, etc. Parent support will be needed and appreciated. Passport to Reading includes use of learning software and other instructional aids: Academy of Reading, Accelerated Reader (Autoskill), Soar to Success (Houghton Mifflin).
CONTENTS OF COURSE:
Phonics: The year will begin with a focus on phonics and word attack skills.
Listening and Reading Comprehension: The teacher will read aloud, model, and talk about comprehension strategies including visualizing, predicting, clarifying, summarizing, and questioning. Students will then practice these same strategies in independent and shared reading.
Vocabulary/Word Study: Students will study vocabulary words from the read-alouds and their independent reading, as well as Greek and Latin roots.
Independent Reading: This is probably the most important component of the program. It provides an opportunity for students to practice skills and strategies they are learning in class. Parent support is strongly encouraged and necessary for student progress.
Homework: Daily homework includes reading for 30 minutes and getting a parent signature.
HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD SELECT APPROPRIATE READING MATERIAL:
1. Find books of interest: sports, mystery, adventure, romance, fantasy, science, fiction.
2. Use the 5-Finger Test.
a. Choose an interesting book.
b. Open the book to a page that is mostly print.
c. Start reading from the top of the page, and each time you run into a word you don't know, put up a finger. A word you don't know is a word you can’t say or a word for which you don't know the meaning. If the word is the name of a person or place, you don't have to count it.
d. Read to the end of the page and see how many fingers you have up.
e. Decide how hard the book will be for you. If you have zero to one fingers up, the book will be easy for you to read; two to five fingers up, the book will be of medium difficulty; six or more fingers up, the book will be a challenge to read.
f. If the book is an easy book or a challenge book, it can still be a good choice for you. It is important, however, that you select a medium book for your independent reading.
3. Go regularly to the public library to check out books. Visit the juvenile and young adult sections.